OF SELBORNE 7 



oaks of a peculiar growth and great value ; they were tall and 

 taper like firs, but standing near together had very small 

 heads, only a little brush without any large limbs. About 

 twenty years ago the bridge at the Toy, near Hampton 

 Court, being much decayed, some trees were wanted for 

 the repairs that were fifty feet long without bough, and 

 would measure twelve inches diameter at the little end. 

 Twenty such trees did a purveyor find in this little wood, 

 with this advantage, that many of them answered the 

 description at sixty feet. These trees were sold for 

 twenty pounds apiece. 



In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which, 

 though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a 

 large excrescence about the middle of the stem. On this 

 a pair of ravens had fixed their residence for such a series 

 of years, that the oak was distinguished by the title of The 

 Raven-tree. Many were the attempts of the neighbouring 

 youths to get at this eyry: the difficulty whetted their 

 inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the 

 arduous task. But, when they arrived at the swelling, it 

 jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their 

 grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknow- 

 ledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. So the 

 ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till 

 the fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. 

 It was in the month of February, when those birds usually 

 sit. The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were 

 inserted into the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy 

 blows of the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; 

 but still the dam sat on. At last, when it gave way, the 

 bird was flung from her nest ; and, though her parental 

 affection deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the 

 twigs, which brought her dead to the ground. 



